I applaud the Bozeman Bicycle Network Plan of August 22. It was prepared by Mack Durham, a research assistant at MSU’s Western Transportation Institute. It was designed to “alleviate the issues facing the cyclists of the Bozeman area.” It aims to “provide a tool to help improve the quality of bicycle transportation in the city of Bozeman.”

The Plan appears reasonable and prudent. Its recommendations seem modest, well researched, and reasoned. I’m highly supportive of its goals. That said, reluctantly I’m a recovering bicycle commuter from our ranch to Bozeman. I didn’t want to become a candidate for a Darwin Award.

The Darwin Awards were established to “honor those who improve our gene pool...by removing themselves from it. These men and women gave their ‘all’ in an effort to improve the human species. Of necessity, the honor is generally bestowed posthumously.”

One week this summer I (at least partially) disqualified myself from consideration. How? I no longer regularly cycle to work.

I love to cycle. My wife and I have several bikes -- road, cross, mountain, and tandem. For many summers between first and second cuttings of hay, Ramona and I led 400-mile bike trips -- from Gallatin Gateway to Glacier, through the Big Hole, to the Tetons, and other great places.

I’ve cycled for well over 50 years. I wear a helmet, and I follow traffic laws. I stop at stop signs, wear the bright colors of highway workers, and stay on the right.

When I taught at the University of Washington, I lived on a bike trail and rode 100 miles a week. One year I biked over 5,000 miles and Ramona and I rode from Bellingham, Washington, back to Montana. I trust this establishes my credentials as a bike enthusiast.

I especially enjoyed (past tense, please) biking to work. It’s just over 10 miles from home to Bozeman. The first mile and a half were gravel, then I climbed Gooch Hill, and breezed into town and a shower. I demanded a shower in our office just so I could ride in.

It was exhilarating and I nearly always arrived in a very good mood. Endorphins usually kicked in. But alas, it’s over. Why? I love to live and would like to continue.

A few weeks ago I had three quite bad experiences, three out of five commutes. On Monday, two young males in a rusted-out car, worth half my bike’s value at best, deliberately ran me off the road.

Wednesday, when I was biking home at 20 mph, four young women in a new yellow VW bug ignored a stop sign and pulled out directly in front of me. I nearly hit them. Did they stop and apologize? No. They gave me the single-digit salute and continued to chatter.

Enough? Not quite. On Friday, a guy in his Suburban looked right past me (through me?) and pulled out, nearly running over me. This was enough. I’m over it. And yet I fully expect others to advocate bicycle commuting.

Here’s a guarantee. Schools are resuming and traffic jams will grow. Some well-intentioned folks will argue that a solution lies in dramatically increased bicycle commuting.

I sympathize with this view and support the goals. Yes, I recognize the benefits of cycling -- ecological, economic, and exercise. However, reality intrudes and I now decline to join bike commuters.

Cycling into Bozeman is not a responsible solution to traffic congestion. As the Bozeman Bicycle Network Plan notes, our community’s roads are not bike friendly. I and numerous area cyclists have found that far too many motorists are not bike friendly either. No one wants to be a candidate for roadkill.

And I surely don’t want to receive a Darwin Award. Alas, I no longer cycle to work on a regular basis. I might hazard a trip via back roads during off-peak hours, but this will be the exception. And it will do nothing to relieve congestion. I’m sorry, but that’s the rational decision.

I hope for change in drivers’ behavior -- but my hopes and expectations are in separate baskets. Give me evidence that motorists will respect a cyclist’s right to share the road and I’ll gladly get back on my bike.